The Council of the European Union's Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM) is scheduled to meet on 15 July 2026 at 09:00 in the Justus Lipsius Building in Brussels, according to a notice of meeting and provisional agenda published on 14 July. The meeting, held in a 1+1 format, will address four main agenda items: protecting and promoting freedom of expression online, an overview of EU human rights dialogues, an assessment of the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council (HRC62), and preparations for the 63rd session (HRC63). The agenda also includes an 'Any Other Business' (AOB) item.
The meeting comes amid ongoing EU efforts to shape global digital rights standards and coordinate member state positions in multilateral human rights forums. The discussion on online freedom of expression is expected to build on the EU's broader digital policy framework, including the Digital Services Act and the proposed EU Code of Conduct on disinformation, though no specific legislative proposals are on the agenda. The overview of EU human rights dialogues will likely cover bilateral engagements with third countries, while the assessment of HRC62 and preparations for HRC63 aim to align EU positions ahead of the next UN Human Rights Council session.
No prior coverage of this specific meeting exists in the available record. The meeting is procedural in nature, with no binding decisions expected. Stakeholders such as EU member state representatives, human rights NGOs, and digital rights advocates may follow the outcomes, particularly regarding online expression, as the EU continues to balance free speech with content moderation obligations. The Council documents are available on the Delegates Portal, and room attendants will provide copies on request.